Compare towns

Windham vs Bethel vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureWindhamBethelBrookline
People
Population
594
1,736Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
50.7±3.7Highest
18% above VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Bethel and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
11.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bethel and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Brookline and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$75,822±$7kLowest
7% below VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$238,000±$41kLowest
25% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,335±$220Lowest
8% above VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Brookline and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$5,168
about the VT average
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54%±22Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
Bethel and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
6.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.6%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
14% above VT
28 min
19% above VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — White River Unified School District #79 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.